Building the Future of Design: Architecture & Interior Design Internships at Z Group
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Meet 2026 summer interns Dajiel Robinson and Jonathan Kelly and explore how hands-on experience and collaboration connect the next generation of designers to Z Group’s architectural legacy.
At Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, more than 70 years of practice in Aspen and Colorado’s Western Slope have taught us that a lasting design legacy is not only about what we build. It is also about the people who will shape what comes next.
This summer, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dajiel Robinson and Jonathan Kelly to our firm as design interns.
Throughout their time with Z Group, Dajiel and Jonathan worked alongside our architecture and interior design teams on active projects—contributing ideas, developing technical skills, visiting project sites, and gaining firsthand experience with the collaborative process behind thoughtful design.
For us, internships are an opportunity to make room for emerging perspectives while sharing the knowledge that comes from decades of practice.
Dajiel Robinson
Dajiel joins Z Group from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she is a senior in the Environmental Design Program majoring in Architecture, with minors in German Studies and Linguistics. She is part of the graduating class of 2027.
During her summer with Z Group, Dajiel gained hands-on experience across both architecture and interior design. She participated in a site visit for a nearly completed residential project in Aspen, developed SketchUp massing studies for a home in Elk Springs, created interior renderings for a residence in South Carolina, and joined design charrettes for our Midland Ave. office remodel.
Working alongside different members of the firm also gave Dajiel an opportunity to see how architecture and interior design come together through collaboration—and to apply her developing design skills to meaningful, real-world projects.
“The biggest thing I’ll take away from this internship is the importance of working alongside a strong team and seeing how individual ideas and skills come together to create thoughtful, meaningful spaces. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to develop my own design skills while contributing to projects with real-world impact.” — Dajiel Robinson
Jonathan Kelly
Jonathan is a third-year student at Syracuse University, where he is pursuing the university’s five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree.
His summer experience stretched from early design thinking through documentation and permitting. Jonathan developed concepts and floor plans for active projects, designed a metal fireplace installation and two exterior entry doors from concept through detailing and hardware selection, and produced client-facing renderings.
He also worked through redline markups on residential drawing sets, created a complete interior finish schedule for a residential remodel, and helped submit a full permit set to the Town of Snowmass—giving him exposure to the many stages required to move an architectural idea toward reality.
“It was fun to create real work that was sent out to clients and actually had an impact on projects. It feels good to be able to help.” — Jonathan Kelly
Mentorship in Architecture and Interior Design: Learning Goes Both Ways
Design has always been a collaborative profession. A sketch becomes stronger through conversation. An idea evolves through critique. And knowledge built over years of practice becomes more valuable when it is shared.
But mentorship in architecture and interior design is not a one-way exchange. Emerging designers bring new tools, questions, perspectives, and ways of seeing to the industry. Creating opportunities for those voices to participate in real work strengthens both their professional development and the practice itself.
Founded in Aspen in 1952, our practice has evolved across generations while maintaining a philosophy rooted in people, place, and the landscape. With more than seven decades of practice behind us, we also believe that legacy carries a responsibility: to make room for the designers who will shape what comes next.
Today, that legacy continues through a multidisciplinary team of architects, architectural designers, and interior designers working across Aspen, the Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado’s Western Slope, and beyond.
Explore Z Group
Meet the people behind our work and discover how collaboration, curiosity, and a shared connection to place shape Z Group’s approach to architecture and interior design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do architecture and interior design interns do at Z Group?
Design interns at Z Group gain hands-on experience across different stages of professional practice while working alongside our architecture and interior design teams. During the 2026 summer internship, responsibilities included design studies, floor plan development, architectural detailing, interior renderings, finish schedules, drawing coordination, site visits, design charrettes, and permit documentation for active projects in Aspen, Snowmass, and the Roaring Fork Valley.
How does Z Group support emerging architecture and interior design professionals?
Z Group supports emerging designers through meaningful participation, mentorship, and exposure to real projects. Interns work alongside architects, architectural designers, and interior designers, gaining insight into how ideas develop from early concepts through design, documentation, and implementation. This collaborative experience allows interns to build professional skills while contributing their own perspectives, curiosity, and creativity to the studio.
How do architecture and interior design work together at Z Group?
Z Group approaches architecture and interior design as connected parts of a unified design process. Collaboration between disciplines helps create continuity between a building’s relationship to its site, its architecture, and the experience of its interior spaces. Working together from a shared design vision allows our multidisciplinary team to consider materials, spatial relationships, functionality, and the human experience as interconnected elements rather than separate decisions.
Why is mentorship important to Z Group’s architecture and interior design practice?
Founded in Aspen in 1952, Z Group has evolved across generations of architects and designers. We believe that a design legacy carries a responsibility to make room for the professionals who will shape what comes next. Mentorship allows knowledge gained through decades of practice to be shared while emerging designers introduce new perspectives, technologies, questions, and ways of seeing. That exchange helps both people and the practice continue to evolve.
Where does Z Group provide architecture and interior design services?
Z Group Architecture & Interior Design is rooted in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, with locations in Aspen and Basalt. Our multidisciplinary team provides architecture and interior design services for projects throughout Aspen, Snowmass, the Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado’s Western Slope, and beyond.
Does Z Group offer architecture and interior design internships?
Z Group has welcomed students and emerging designers into the firm for hands-on professional experience across architecture and interior design. During the summer of 2026, interns Dajiel Robinson and Jonathan Kelly contributed to active projects while learning alongside Z Group’s multidisciplinary team. Those interested in future internships or career opportunities can visit our Join Our Team page to learn more.
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